Hartpury’s world-renowned reputation for producing rugby talent has been underlined again with 11 alumni named in international squads for the men’s 2021 Guinness Six Nations Championship.
Harry Randall, who studied a Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport (Performance and Excellence) in Rugby at Hartpury College, has a chance to become the latest alumni to make his Six Nations debut after being named in the senior England squad for the first time.
Harry’s call-up to the showpiece tournament further highlights the success of the rugby pathway at Hartpury – a RFU University Partner – that last year saw it ranked number one in the world at producing professional rugby players.
Harry joins Dan Robson, Jonny Hill, Jonny May and Ellis Genge in the defending champions’ star-studded line-up ahead of the first round of fixtures on 6 February, while another former Hartpury College student, Alex Craig, wins his chance to impress in the Scotland squad.
The Wales squad includes Louis Rees-Zammit, who was named the Rugby Players Association’s Young Player of the Year last season, while another former Hartpury College student, Billy Burns, has been selected to be part of the Ireland squad.
Hartpury University graduate Sebastian Negri features in the Italy squad alongside former Hartpury College students Callum Braley and Stephen Varney.
Tom Radcliffe, Director of Elite Sport at Hartpury, said: “Many congratulations to all 11 of our former students who have been selected for this year’s Six Nations Championships, in particular Harry Randall following his landmark selection to the England squad.
“It’s a fabulous honour for the players to be representing their countries and we’re looking forward to following their progress closely during the tournament – we wish them all well.
“Their achievements highlights the continuing success of our rugby pathway, which provides a unique platform for college rugby, university rugby and Championship rugby all on one site.”
Rugby students at Hartpury – one of the world’s leading sports education institutions – have access to a range of world-class facilities.
Hartpury’s new £8.8 million Sports Academy includes a including a biomechanics laboratory, a rehabilitation suite featuring an anti-gravity treadmill, and a human performance laboratory with an altitude chamber, and a sports hall.
As well as running Hartpury University RFC – the only student-led team in men’s rugby’s Greene King Championship – Hartpury is the training centre for Gloucester Rugby and has strong relationships with England Rugby.
Picture: Harry Randall playing for Hartpury
